ST. ELPHEGE, M. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

From his genuine life, written by Osbern, a monk
of Canterbury, in 1070, but finished by Eadmer, as Mr. Wharton
discovered, who has given us a more ample and correct edition of it
than either the Bollandists or Mabillon had been able to furnish. See
a short history of his martyrdom in a chronicle written in the reign
of Henry I., in the Cottonian library. Vitellius, c. v. viii. Leland,
Collect. t. 1, p. 22, and the history of the translation of his body
from London to Canterbury, among the MSS. In the Harielan library,
Cod. 624, fol. 136, in the British Museum.1

A. D. 1012.

ST. ELPHEGE was born of noble and virtuous
parents, who gave him a good education. Fearing the snares of riches,
he renounced the world while he was yet very young; and though most
dutiful to his parents in all other things, he in this courageously
overcame the tears of his tender mother. He served God first in the
monastery of Derherste in Gloucestershire. His desire of greater
perfection taught him always to think that he had not yet begun to
live to God. After some years he left Derherste, and built himself a
cell in a desert place of the abbey of Bath, where he shut himself
up, unknown to men, but well known to God, for whose love he made
himself a voluntary martyr of penance. His virtue, after some time,
shone to men the brighter through the veils of his humility, and many
noblemen and others addressed themselves to him for instructions in
the paths of perfection, and he was at length obliged to take upon
him the direction of the great abbey of Bath. Perfection is more
difficultly maintained in numerous houses. St. Elphege lamented
bitterly the irregularities of the tepid among the brethren,
especially little junketings, from which he in a short time reclaimed
them; and God, by the sudden death of one, opened the eyes of all the
rest. The good abbot would not tolerate the least relaxation in his
communion, being sensible how small a breach may totally destroy the
regularity of a house. He used to say, that it would have been much
better for a man to have stayed in the world, than to be an imperfect
monk; and that to wear the habit of a saint, without having the
spirit, was a perpetual lie, and an hypocrisy which insults, but can
never impose upon Al mighty God. St. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester,
dying in 984, St. Dunstan being admonished by St. Andrew, in a
vision, obliged our holy abbot to quit his solitude, and accept of
episcopal consecration. The virtues of Elphege became more
conspicuous in this high station, though he was no more than thirty
years of age when he was first placed in it. In winter, how cold
soever it was, he always rose at midnight, went out, and prayed a
long time barefoot, and without his upper garment. He never ate flesh
unless on extraordinary occasions. He was no less remarkable for
charity to his neighbor, than severity to himself. He accordingly
provided so liberally for the indigences of the poor, that during his
time there were no beggars in the whole diocese of Winchester. The
holy prelate had governed the see of Winchester twenty-two years with
great edification, when, after the death of archbishop Alfric, in
1006, he was translated to that of Canterbury, being fifty-two years
of age. He who trembled under his former burden, was much more
terrified at the thought of the latter: but was compelled to
acquiesce. Having been at Rome to receive his pall, he held at his
return a great national council at Oenham, in 1009, in which
thirty-two canons were published for the reformation of errors and
abuses, and the establishment of discipline; and, among other things,
the then ancient law, commanding the fast on Friday, was confirmed.

The Danes at that time made the most dreadful
havoc in England. They landed where they pleased, and not only
plundered the country, but committed excessive barbarities on the
natives, with little or no opposition from the weak king Ethelred.
Their army being joined by the traitorous earl Edric, they marched
out of the West into Kent, and sat down before Canterbury. But before
it was invested, the English nobility, perceiving the danger the
place was in, desired the archbishop, then in the city, to provide
for his security by flight, which he refused to do, saying, that it
was the part only of a hireling to abandon his flock in the time of
danger. During the siege, he often sent out to the enemies to desire
them to spare his innocent sheep, whom he endeavored to animate
against the worst that could happen. And having prepared them, by his
zealous exhortations, rather to suffer the utmost than renounce their
faith, he gave them the blessed eucharist, and recommended them to
the divine protection. While he was thus employed in assisting and
encouraging his people, Canterbury was taken by storm. The infidels
on entering the city made a dreadful slaughter of all that came in
their way, without distinction of sex or age. The holy prelate was no
sooner apprized of the barbarity of the enemy, but breaking from the
monks, who would have detained him in the church, where they thought
he might be safe, he pressed through the Danish troops, and made his
way to the place of slaughter. Then turning to the enemy, he desired
them to forbear the massacre of his people, and rather discharge
their fury upon him, crying out to the murderers: “Spare these
innocent persons. There is no glory in spilling their blood. Turn
your indignation rather against me. I have reproached you for your
cruelties: I have fed, clothed, and ransomed these your captives.”
The archbishop, talking with this freedom, was immediately seized,
and used by the Danes with all manner of barbarity. Not content with
making him the spectator of the burning of his cathedral, and the
decimation of his monks, and of the citizens, having torn his face,
beat and kicked him unmercifully, they laid him in irons, and
confined him several months in a filthy dungeon. But being afflicted
with an epidemical mortal colic in their army, and attributing this
scourge to their cruel usage of the saint, they drew him out of
prison. He prayed for them, and gave to their sick bread which he had
blessed; by eating this their sick recovered, and the calamity
ceased. Their chiefs returned thanks to the servant of God, and
deliberated about setting him at liberty, but covetousness prevailing
in their council, they exacted for his ransom three thousand marks of
gold. He said that the country was all laid waste; moreover, that the
patrimony of the poor was not to be squandered away. He therefore was
bound again, and on Easter Sunday was brought before the commanders
of their fleet, which then lay at Greenwich, and threatened with
torments and death unless he paid the ransom demanded. He answered,
that he had no other gold to offer them than that of true wisdom,
which consists in the knowledge and worship of the living God: which
if they refused to listen to, they would one day fare worse than
Sodom; adding, that their empire would not long subsist in England.
The barbarians, enraged at this answer, knocked him down with the
backs of their battle-axes, and then stoned him. The saint, like St.
Stephen, prayed our Lord to forgive them, and to receive his soul. In
the end, raising himself up a little, he said, “O good
Shepherd! O incomparable Shepherd! look with compassion on the
children of thy church, which1, dying, recommend to thee.” And
here a Dane, that had been lately baptized by the saint, perceiving
him agonizing and under torture, grieved to see him suffer in so slow
and painful a manner, to put an end to his pain, clove his head with
his battle-axe, and gave the finishing stroke to his martyrdom Thus
died St. Elphege, on the 19th of April, 1012, in the fifty-ninth year
of his age. He was solemnly interred in the cathedral of St. Paul’s,
in London. In 1023, his body was found entire, and translated with
honor to Canterbury: Knut, the Danish king, and Agelnoth, the
archbishop, went with it from St. Paul’s to the river: it was
carried by monks down a narrow street to the water side, and put on
board a vessel; the king held the stern. Queen Emma also attended
with great presents, and an incredible multitude of people followed
the procession from London. The church of Canterbury, on the
occasion, was most magnificently adorned. This translation was made
on the 8th of June, on which it was annually commemorated. His relics
lay near the high altar till the dispersion of relics under Henry
VIII. Hacon, Turkill, and the other Danish commanders, perished
miserably soon after, and their numerous fleet of above two hundred
sail was almost all lost in violent storms. St. Elphege is named in
the Roman Martyrology.

Our English Martyrology commemorates on the 1st of
September another St. Elphege, surnamed the Bald, bishop of
Winchester, which see he governed from the death of St. Brynstan, in
935 to 953. He is celebrated for his sanctity, and a singular spirit
of prophecy, of which Malmesbury gives some instances.